The stance looks great and overall the car looks more the part. I am sure you will have some fun with the new setup.
First time I have seen the Hayseed in over 40 years. You'd never know it was the same car. I guess this was the fate of many of these old Corvette race cars, although I doubt many were brought back to the caliber of this restoration. NCRS top flight and Bloomington Gold for this car did not surprise me as the build quality back in it's day as a race car was equally as nice. It was good to talk to Doug ,show him a few pictures of mine and let him know his car left a lifelong impression with me.
Dick Moroso's 61 Corvette was at the event also. I told them I'd give them a good deal on the 4 inch I-beams I took out of my car to give this one it's old stance back.
Back in the mid seventies these race cars were worthless. Doug was smart enough to have put away all the original parts and put it all back to stock back back to exactly as it was when he bought it to turn into a race car. Who would have guessed any of these Corvette would be worth what they are today (especially the race Corvettes ) ? And today, if Doug had it to do over(knowing what he knows today), he'd as left it just as it was in its race trim. Bottom line is he was smart enough to hang on to this car for 53 years. And it was still good to see it at the show...like seeing an old friend you haven't seen in 40 years . And I certainly liked it much better as it was back in the seventies than it's current state(read my signature ).
Baron , very diplomatic answer and in a good way. I for the most part agree with your byline and I am sure that Doug is extremely proud of the history of his car but the restorer camp love the present state and the drag race guys kind of “dislike” it I would assume. Even a clone would not be that great since the original exists. When I lived in North San Diego county in the 80s I ended up selling some Corvette big brake odds and ends to Mike Ernst, who lived in El Cajon at the time. Mike had recently found the 1962 Corvette A Production champion racer (1962 Vette with 12 first in class wins in 62 including Daytona and Sebring). Mike found the car being driven by a college student as his daily driver in Minnesota I believe. Many of the original parts were missing but Mike tracked them down and redid the car as it ran in 1962. The rear springs on the car were incorrect and Mike sold them to me as they were pretty stiff which I wanted for an up stance. I still have those springs on my black 62 and they still bring a silly smile to my face even though they had nothing to do with the actual competition of the Gulf Oil 62. When I went to his house to pick up the springs I asked if I could sit in the car. Looking over the hood and just taking.it all in was an experience I will not forget. I thought of the places it had been and competition it had been in and it was magical. Some may think I am nuts but so be it. If it was still painted as the college student had it (I thought it was red, maybe maroon) with all of the incorrect way in which it was presented, no matter how many sign boards you placed around the car it would not be the same. Then look at Chip Miller finding the #3 1960 Lemans Corvette by tracking down the VIN. If my memory serves me it was “restored” to red with white coves in St Louis (I think) and the owner did not know of its history. I think Chip paid maybe $35000 for it and then restored it to its racing livery. Value is now somewhere in seven figures. If you saw it at a car show in “restored factory condition” it would not be the same as the racing livery. If I won the lottery I would love to buy the racing parts and the car from Doug and return it to the condition that made it part of the Corvette racing heritage and put all of the leftover parts on ebay for the purists. Something about an old racing Corvette that turns some of us into fools, I suppose.
Not a gasser Jim, but the Purple People Eater would be another good example. Chip and his buddy found and autocrossed a rundown "59 Corvette for a while until they realised it was another famous race car. Some others here may know better, but I think I remember they paid $1500 for it. They eventually restored it as it should have been. a purple race car. It's a shame to see race cars with real history restored as original. But I guess whoever owns it has that choice.
Doug I know he found the Purple People Eater and did an excellent restoration to as raced condition. Chip was pretty serious about finding the old SCCA styled racers. I saw the Purple People Eater years ago and wanted to build a similar car for kicks but gave up on the idea. Then Chip had the VIN # for the #1 1960 Corvette that raced at Lemans (winning car at Lemans in class, 8th overall which is good stuff) but they did not locate the car until after his death, or at least it wasn't restored until after his death. They took it to Lemans for the 50th anniversary I believe. Point being, Vette racecars should be Vette racecars to keep the true heritage alive. We all know what they are "supposed " to look like when new. They look pretty much like every other car of the same year as equipped. Overall the Corvette community hold the road race Vettes in pretty high esteem but no so much with the drag race cars. The early Vettes did pretty well on the road courses but they held their own on the drag strip. Guys on the HAMB get it more than most on the Corvette forums, IMO. 1962 Gulf Oil car Purple People Eater
A lot of the younger guys, those who grew up in the 70's or later just don't realize the hot car image a Vette had back in the 50's and 60's. They know the anemic later 70's and 80's Vette and the sometimes snobbish nose in the air owners
Looks great. Headers look great, stance is great. Always like the hardtops on the car. Fenderwell headers always seem to sound better than conventional under frame headers. Really like the headers peeking through the wheelwells. What are your plans with the hood?
Thanks Jim. Gotta get some mufflers on...as you can see the headers blow a lot of dirt LOL. I've got a hood just got to get time to put it back on. Lots of little things to do soon as I catch my breath.
Ha! Funny you mention that. Mosquitoes are especially bad around my place. The old 454 in my '57 has been in there for 30+ years & the valve seals are predictably worn. Late in the afternoon when the pesky little blood suckers are at their worst, all it takes is about 10 minutes (or less) of run time from RattSass & no more mosquitoes...
Another AA/GS racing season has come to a end but what a great year it was. We competed at 14 events this year in front of more than more than 150,000 spectators helping keep Corvette Gassers alive and well. They loved it, here is a picture of us at U.S. Nationals.
Hey Bob. Congratulations on another great season. Hopefully you'll get back up to New England Dragway this coming year.
Rat Sass could you please send photos of headers to me. Tubular is getting ready to build them and I would like to see yours before they start bluesteve5150@gmail.com Thanks also could I get your#
First mock-up pics of the new ScottRods 63 split window cpe. Gasser that we are building to go AA/GS Racing next summer.
ScottRods New AA/GS split window almost ready for the chassis jig. Got the rearend width and the front track width last night.
Looking good. There are not many Vettes at the vintage or nostalgia meets that I have attended. Always good to see another.
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